STUDENT'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 178, 29 July 1932, Page 11

STUDENT'S DEATH.

BRILLIANT OTAGO CHEMIST. The death occurred at Dunedin at the age of 28 years, after a brief illness, of Mr. Peter Walker Aitken, one of the most brilliant students who have passed through Otago University in the paet decade. Mr. Aitken, who was born in 1003, was educated at the Otago Boys' High School, of which lie was dux in 1921. Entering Otago University as the holder of a scholarship, he took a ecience counse, and in 1925 was awarded the Sir George Grey scholarship in experimental science, obtaining the degree of M.Sc., and being awarded the Lubecki Scholarship for applied science in the following year. In 1927 he was Otago nominee for a Rhodes Scholarship, and he devoted the two succeeding years to flax research in the Manawatu district for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Reeearch. He went to England in 1930, and for 12 months studied chemical engineering at the University of London. On hie return to New Zealand he was appointed assistant manager ahd chief chemist of the Dominion Fertiliser Company's works at Ravensbourne, a position he held at the time of his death. As an athlete he was a member of the Univereity first fifteen and represented Otago in boxing at the annual interUniversity tournament.

Mr. Aitken was married only four months ago to Dr. Pauline Witherow, a graduate of Otago University.